World is watching: U.S. Congresswoman Jayapal as communal violence targets Indian Muslims

U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has lambasted rising religious intolerance in India as she reacted to loss of lives in communal violence targeting Muslims in New Delhi.

“This deadly surge of religious intolerance in India is horrifying,” she wrote in a tweet while commenting on The New York report that on killings in that erupted in the Indian capital during President Trump’s visit.

“Democracies should not tolerate division and discrimination, or promote laws that undermine religious freedom. The world is watching,” the Democratic lawmaker of Indian origin said.

As Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for talks on bilateral relations, protests and violence exposed the extent of unrest inflamed by the Modi Government’s Citizenship Amendment Act.

The law is widely seen as being anti-Muslim as it denies citizenship to Muslims on the basis of their religious affiliation, and allows followers of all other religion to seek Indian citizenship.

Reports put the death toll at 20 from Tuesday’s violence that broke out when followers of nationalist BJP ruling party attacked Muslims protesting the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

Representative Rashida Tlaib also voiced her strong reaction to the deadly violence, saying the United States cannot be silent as the tide of Muslim violence continues in India.